Tamaqua, PA (USA)

[got breakfast at McDonalds in Hometown at 0600 - filled up with gas at Exxon in Andreas (PA) at 0630] - Early start this morning (0645) - misty, cool, quiet at the PA-309 trailhead. I had planned a shorter day than yesterday and, armed with intel from hikers yesterday, knew my work was cut out for me. There were more rocks on this section than I've seen on the AT since climbing Katahdin last fall. There were also lots of spider webs, overgrown grassy paths and briars (ouch). I'm actually amazed that I didn't end taking any ticks home with me... Tough going on the rocks - big ones, slippery ones, loose ones. If I tried this section last winter, I'm sure I would have hurt myself a lot or gotten very lost. Fortunately, today was another nice, snowless and temperate day! I only saw a few hikers all day, although there were large numbers of bird watchers in the south side of the knob. Turned around at Ashfield Road. I had a pretty good day overall, logging around 16.5 miles (serenaded by small arms fire at a nearby gun club) and finishing around 1315. Drove home via PA-309, PA-143, I-78, I-81, I-83, PA-581, US-15, I-270, I-495 (didn't stop at all). It was a good weekend: only a little more than 30 miles left in PA! Ready to take on another work week... AT Today = 8.24 miles / G.T. AT = 495.11 miles]